Review: An insider's guide to modern stadium amenities - the 2024 Naming Rights Stadium Thread

"LIV Golf bonesaw field" coming soon...

 

Honestly, other than the XDC and now Guidehouse jersey sponsors, what has she accomplished? Can't be the cherry blossom shirt, the fans & media beat the club over the head for years over that and it was almost certainly a designer at adidas who created it. We still haven't gotten the exclusive "member" digital merchandise that was supposed to come from that deal. I am not actually sure what she has done to hang her hat on, that would have happened in some similar form. Certainly nothing that has contributed appreciably to putting a winner on the field.

I couldn't help but notice the two "pens" of fans standing on the field at either end during warmups. I can only assume this is our new season ticket victim perk.

 

As MLS has become more mainstream, the business types will be Sports Marketing MBA types who have no affinity for the sport -- to them it's selling widgets. Remember the old team store? Employees who were friendly and desired feedback on merchandise? Now you get Fanatics, another marketing cancer like Ticketbastard. Don't expect warm and fuzzies from Danita or anyone else, they don't understand the game or the culture and couldn't be arsed to try to understand it.

 

I have always considered it a failure on DCU's part (all the way from 1995) to not somehow involve United Bank, or United Airlines, or the United Brotherhood of Carpenter Workers* - or anything "United"-related in a sponsorship deal



* No idea if that's even a union, but it should be, and it should have some local DC sponsorship money

 

Without a doubt, although I'd say that is that most/all other sport's teams don't really have a culture. Wearing a cheesehead, dressing up like a hog or the Raiders blackhole isn't culture. For sure the original teams have a distinct culture many/most of the early expansion clubs have that same type of identity. Not so sure about any of the more recent clubs. The clubs don't want it, it creates resistance to the things the club wants to do to maximize revenue. We've talked on here about the club wanting to purge and replace the longer standing STMs from back when it was a membership and thing of substance as well as strong block of fans who expect the club to win things. I'll never believe that the club values <21 yo fans in the same way as >21 yo fans.

 

Years ago they did have at least an advertising deal with United Bank - because I clearly remember seeing the ads at RFK. Now that it appears the banking relationship with EagleBank is severed perhaps they will make something happen with United Bank...?

DC does have an advertising deal with Local 602 of the Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Sun Country is the official air-charter company for MLS teams through the end of 2026. Maybe after that for UAL?

 

Be careful what you ask for. I'm sure the UAE is looking for more sports washing opportunities.

 

Good to know - I know Loudoun has a relationship with Local 26 - because they announce it for every corner kick Both the TV announcers and the public-address announcers - we drink if we hear the stadium announcer first - because everything, especially corner kicks, should be involved in a drinking or gambling game

 

outside of the beer snake, is anyone doing drinking games at AF (formerly EagleBank Arena East)? Or am I now just too old to be aware of these things?

 

Not that it's a game (it's completely serious) but there were a great number who toasted the 69th minute last time I was in Audi (it's been a minute).
We try to carry on the tradition at home but for all Dave Johnson's mentions of the clock "to synch", he often fails to mention anything in the 69th.
NASCAR has a habit of going to commercial to try to avoid the 69th lap as well, another good reason to toast, so I'm used to it

 

I know the Washington Spirit and the Defenders use Audi field. Is there a LaCrosse team that does as well? At the game vs Chicago, I noticed wear and tear on the field that only LaCrosse will leave.

 

That was just UFL games, the football sidelines. They beat up the field like lacrosse, although I remember lacrosse being wider.

 

What's the complaining for? This is what pitch's looked like in the good old days.

 

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@WashSpiritANNOUNCE AUGUST INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES
The Spirit face @ArsenalWFC at Audi Field on August 18th. Then, on August 25th in a first of its kind double header the Spirit will play the KC Current in NWSL play followed by an all London affair as Chelsea face Arsenal.

 

We play on the 24th so I'm sure the field will be pristine.

 

better than more UFL games

 

It's a disease. It has to be completely removed.

 

Hi there. My six year old son was asking me last night about how they constructed Audi Field. I was telling him how I used to the follow the construction progress through your documentation. Would you by chance have a small sampling of some of the pictures you took that I can show him? Thanks!

 

I'm not sure that I have a small sampling, but I may be able to send you a link to a few thousand when I'm back home.

 

From Steven Goff on Twitter:

With a gap in the schedules, Audi Field playing surface is scheduled to be replaced following the D.C. United Leagues Cup match July 31, per DCU officials.

— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) July 17, 2024

 

Was it only a rumor that the field was to be changed once the Defender's season was over? I'm talking right after it finished.

 

That was my understanding, but I think they booked so many other events that there wasn't a good opportunity to do it. There was not only United & Spirit games, but also the USWNT game, the friendly with Celtic coming up, and IIRC some kind of concert, too. They just overbooked the place.

 

You say overbooked, I say appropriately utilized... It is only over booked if the Fritzgibbons marriage is the same time as the Squirrel Metal show, which coincides with the Dirt Bike Rally... Until then, we are good...

 

The UFL schedule was finalized late too.

 

I recall being told some years ago it costs upwards of $500k to replace the turf - that's gotta fit into Leviathan's thoughts, too.